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In the 49 years I've been a reader of your paper, I can't recall an editorial with as much impact as your juxtaposition of the Sandy Hook victims and the heartless lawmakers who chose to put their lobbied positions over common sense and compassion.

Even the enlarged Marco Rubio photograph, lording over what in my mind will be forever known as the "Sandy Hook 45," is propitious; here is a person who may seek the highest office in the land.

As the lives of those smiling victims were vanquished in a senseless act, the political careers of those 45 smiling legislators should be ended by a sensible act at the ballot box. Maybe that's what President Barack Obama meant when he said, "In time we'll get the job done."

It's now up to the electorate not to forget all the smiling faces on that page.

Duke Miller, Anna Maria

How soon they forget | April 19, editorial

Courage and cowardice

I felt proud of the paper this morning for the editorial page in its entirety: the courageous editorial naming names of the cowards in the Senate who voted down extended background checks on guns, and the moving columns by Gabrielle Giffords and Daniel Ruth on the same topic.

If enough other newspapers nationwide speak as forcefully, maybe our elected officials will rethink their cowardice and tendency to ignore the needs and desires of the larger public.

Elaine Markowitz, Palm Harbor

Powerful statement

This was a powerful, graphic statement of the victims versus the uncaring powerful. What a comparison of the innocent and corrupt. How can so-called leaders of the country vote against a measure that might save even one life? This visual representation should be shown in every print media and on every electronic media outlet.

Whether one is a gun owner or not, it seems that supporting a background check would be a responsible position. It would begin to acknowledge a need for reasonable guidelines.

Rita Nelson, New Port Richey

A matter of money

The Tampa Bay Times was strong today bashing the 45 senators who voted against the latest version of proposed legislation strengthening background checks for potential gun buyers.

It seems ironic that also in today's Times, within the classifieds section, the Times sold 44 ads for guns and/or ammo. I believe these guns and ammo offered for sale do not require any background checks.

I guess with the Times, talk is cheap but money for gun ads is priceless.

David Schmidt, Homosassa

Crossing the line

Your editorial page crossed over the line.

Those senators who voted against the bill are in no way responsible for the death of those children as your editorial page is suggesting. Reprehensible. Your paper has sunk to a new low.

William C. Bolin Sr., Largo

In aftermath of gun vote, who has the facts right? | April 19, PolitiFact

Medicine and guns

The part I don't understand is this incessant talk about our constitutional rights being "trampled" on when talk of gun control laws comes about. Have you tried to purchase Sudafed, a common over-the-counter antihistamine, lately?

You have to plunk down your driver's license, wait for the pharmacist to register your name, and even then you can only purchase a box containing 10mg pills, which will require you to take six tablets to get the recommended dose. You will run out of the drug before you feel better, have to go back to the pharmacy and go through the whole hassle again. All for a stuffy head.

It's the utmost in absurdity that I can purchase a gun at a gun show or through the Internet with less scrutiny and regulation than I can purchase a widely used over-the-counter antihistamine.

Diana Rao, Tampa

Senate halts gun curbsApril 18

Political corruption

As odious as the U.S. Senate vote on gun control was, it certainly proves the error of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision; Citizens United opened the floodgates that allowed the money lobby to corrupt the political process everywhere in this nation.

There is but one arena where that is not true: the voting booth. Now it is up to "the people" to return these money-corrupted politicians to history's dustbin, and never forget how they became corrupted.

Mike MacDonald, Clearwater

FBI zooms in on 2 faces in crowdApril 19

Cameras did the job

Do people still want to discuss the merits of surveillance cameras? If it wasn't for those in Boston, the two suspects would likely still be unknown. But thanks to the cameras, they were able to identify them.

If you're doing nothing wrong or illegal, what do you have to fear? I have no problem having cameras around and definitely think they should be installed.

Bob Knepp, Valrico

Medicaid math only gets betterApril 17, editorial

Don't pass up savings

Thanks for your editorial alerting readers that Florida would save an additional $430 million annually on the cost of the Medically Needy program if Tallahassee accepts the Medicaid expansion of the Affordable Care Act. That's a $4.3 billion savings over 10 years for Florida.

If we add this $4.3 billion savings to the $51 billion in funding that would come to Florida in 10 years for expanded Medicaid, the total is $55.3 billion.

Floridians pay federal tax and should get our fair share back from this health care program, instead of it going to other states.